"We maintain that changes in situation, location, and relationship would allow us to respond differently. We say that the difficulty causes us to respond in sinful ways. But the Bible teaches again and again that our circumstances don’t cause us to act as we do. They only expose the true condition of our hearts, revealed in our words and actions." (Tim Lane & Paul Tripp, authors of How People Change)
I'll never forget the first time I heard this concept taught. I was a relatively new believer and was attending a seminar taught by David Powlison, a colleague of Tim Lane and Paul Tripp. David held up an imaginary wet sponge and said that if he squeezed it, water would hit the floor. Typically, we'd look at the water and say, what caused that mess? And our answer would be that the sponge was squeezed. But that's inaccurate. For if the same squeeze happened to a dry sponge, nothing would come out. The problem wasn't the squeeze, it was what was in the sponge. The squeeze simply revealed the contents.
This is what happens when the "squeeze" of life--hard circumstances--hits us. What we've stored up in our hearts is going to come out, be it anger and self-righteousness or humility and trust in God. True change means a heart overhaul. But God and His Word can help us to make that change, which is the premise of this book.
Tonight wraps up a four-week course I've been taking at Covenant Life College, which is called by the same name as the core text, How People Change. If you want to follow along, you can purchase the book and download some of the class sessions and outlines from Covenant Life's website. The class has been illuminating and the book is simply a Must Read. If you are confounded by the "squeeze" in your life and displeased with how you've been responding, you will find much sweet counsel in this book. Highly recommended!
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